Garcillano is either a fool or a coward

Former Comelec Commissioner Virgilio Garcillano is either a fool or a coward. Given the chance of redeeming himself, Garcillano chose the least option--stick it out with his handlers, namely Jun Ebdane and Boy Pineda. He probably knows something other people don't. Garcillano probably thinks that his protectors can protect him for as long as it takes. 


For one, Garcillano thinks that it's safe for him to still stay in his house in Bukidnon. He proudly shows his MILF ID. He's neither a Muslim nor a sympathizer of causes but why the MILF still protects him, baffles me. Maybe he's being used as a trump card in the peace negotiations. 


Garcillano did meet Jun Ebdane a week ago during frenetic negotiations with government emisaries. There is truth to the allegation made that Garci made overtures but these stopped shortly after Ebdane reportedly called Garcillano. What the two talkedabout will remain a mystery. 


Maybe Garci had the impression that Ebdane still wields significant influence being the country's Top Mason and a governor of a province at that. What Garci does not know is that this government is hell-bent on expurging the past of undesirable names such as his. This is not for him, but for the next generation. The name Garcillano has been explicably linked with corruption and cheating that when a child is asked what's the synonym of lying and cheating, immediately he says "Garci".


Ebdane is largely credited of having orchestrated the EDSA two revolt. There is a lingering rumour of him being extremely influential with former junior officers now occupying sensitive posts in the AFP. This myth has to be changed for the benefit of the Filipino People.

Clarity is where you find your beauty

What's the secret to a healthier, more vibrant life? Positive attitude. That's right. My friend, John Rankins of Victoria Jackson always say that when you look young, you feel young. When you look wonderful, you feel wonderful. And when you feel wonderful, that's the time that you start changing things around you. 


That's why Victoria Jackson users feel always on the go, because they use makeup that just makes their skin shine like brand new. Makeups, of course, can only do so much. You need to cleanse the skin, and get rid of those old skin cells for the new ones to emerge.

Introducing Clarity. Clarity is the newest hit in town. Clarity Aesthetic Medical and Dental Clinic is located at the 5th floor of the EDSA Shangri-la Mall. Clarity offers some of the state of the art techniques and technologies for people who want nothing more than show the sheen off their skins. 


It is a subsidiary of Healthway Philippines, Inc., which owns and operates Healthway Medical Clinics, the largest network of mall-located outpatient medical centers in the country. Healthway is also an affiliate of GenRx Healthcare, Inc., a Hong Kong-based group with a long-standing reputation for engaging in efficient and reliable outpatient medical care and services throughout the Southeast Asian region.

Clarity just introduced their newest campaign and its aptly called in a positivist term. Rightly so, because Clarity really does this to all of their clients. 


Inner transformations occur first not in the external world of a person, but in his inner world. The will to change starts in the mind, in the feelings and perspectives of people. When you feel and think positive, you'll start to clarify the cobwebs of your mind, and act accordingly, always based on the right things. It is safe, healthy, hygienic and extremely relaxing to get your diamond peel from Clarity.

When you go to a Clarity clinic, you always feel that you did the right thing. Look at their state of the art facilities, their friendly staff, and their attention to ethics and detail. You always leave there with a healthy perspective. 


If you're tired, and want nothing more than rest, the best thing to do is go to a place reputed to take extra care of your skin. The skin is the first thing that is affected when you're stressed out. It suddenly goes dry, dull and lifeless.

With Clarity, you get that skin glowing again. You have professional people out there at Clarity to take extra care of your skin.


Check their website at : 
http://www.clarity.com.ph/ for those promos and special packages. 

INtrusions

Five of the seven slain Philippine Marines were reportedly beheaded by suspected members of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG). Twenty six soldiers were injured in the brutal assault of government forces in Sulu a few days ago. Sketchy reports say the Marines were ambushed by the ASG.


I thought this group was decimated already by the Philippine military? During the time of Arroyo, AFP officials said that they eradicated this group from Mindanao. 


I thought Isnilon Hapilon has already been killed and Dr. Abu, not leading the group anymore? That is the problem with counter-insurgency here in the Philippines, you'll never know the real score. 


Observe--if there are serious challenges to the national leadership and it involves the military, incidences like these happen, like its always, always planned. I mean, Its like the ASG suddenly comes to life wherever convenient. 


President Aquino showed his displeasure by issuing a statement. What about justice? 


Let's expressed the two sides of the same coin: soldiers are considered invaders of Moroland. They crossed the rubicon by punching on Moroland territory. Obviously, according to the Qu'ran, every Muslim has to defend his property from illegal intrusions. He is allowed to use his gun against intruders. That explains why there was a firefight.


There is a possibility that these soldiers failed to "coordinate" with local officials on their planned "visit" to ASG territory. Had it been that they did, this thing would not have happened.


Anyway, these soldiers are now in Manila, awaiting their burial in the Libingan ng mga Bayani. 

Askals fall to Kuwait, 2-1

Our Askals suffered their first humiliating defeat in the hands of the Kuwaitis last night. That 2-1 score ended the campaign of our boys to reach the World Cup in 2014. No worries, they say, we have 2017. By that time, we have improved tremendously and have gained so much strength to even say that hey, China or Britain are no match to the askals.


We are hungry for recognition in the football universe, and rightly so. This is the hardest team sport in the world today. To be number one, that team has to literally squeeze itself out of tightest spots, make tremendous personal sacrifices, spend millions of pesos and improve both the mind and physique.


Unlike basketball, where, as current NBA MVP Derrick Rose says that anyone can shoot a basket, in football, it needs great sacrifice for the rest of the team for one member to take that shot at the net. Taking that shot is not as easy as it looks. It takes great courage to even strike the ball, while two or three defenders try to steal it from you. 


The hardest part of football is kicking that ball to great distances, without using your hands, only your feet. I tried it and it hurts every single time. Even with the most modern sport shoes, the pain of every kick is still there. You need to develop speed, agility, tenacity and lower body and upper body strength to be competitive in this sport. You have to learn how to kick, jump, run as fast as possible, post, while thinking of being part of the whole instead of thinking as just one player. 


Teamwork, yep, that is the key towards attaining football superstardom, not advertisements, or television commercials or being linked to a sexy young actress.


By the next World Cup (not this one in 2014), we would have discovered other tremendous talents all around. We would have, probably even discover our Peles or our Beckenbauers. I believe that there is one such Filipino out there, with the natural ability to kick that ball when it counts, and defend when needed. 


Tenacity is one such character that every Filipino has. I believe there is one individual out there playing in one dry rice field and aspiring to become an Askal. 


He wants to be an askal not because he wants to become rich but because he wants nothing more than get that world cup in the name of the Filipino Nation. 


Askals, our modern mongrels, may be perennially hungry, and rightly so. That is the spirit of football. That hungre should be felt not just by our football team, but by the rest of the Nation.


Every Filipino should be an Askal, always striving for greatness and always working for excellence in their field. 


Every Filipino should be passionate in what he is doing, always doing what is right because it is right.


Askals, we believe in you. See you in the World Cup by 2017.

The State of our Nation, part 2

Wonderful Manila: Manila Cathedral

SON NA ANG PAGBABAGO (Where's the Transformation)?

President Benigno Aquino III's speech lacked the power needed to really change society. It also lacks substance. If you read it, it is an attempt to replicate the powerful speeches of US President Barack Obama. Good, however, it turned out to be a mis-mash.


The State of the Nation Address of Aquino was actually a brief departamental report of the performances of several divisions. Aquino reported how several divisions (i.e., DFA, DOE, DOTC, etc) performed during the last year. There were bright spots like his claims that the government were able to save this and that, but it is clearly evident that Aquino deliberately missed several of the main and most crucial issues bedeviling this Nation since Day One.


Aquino never mentioned about the progress of peace talks in Mindanao. Yes, you may have credit upgrades up to seven times, but with just one incident in Mindanao and all would be lost. 


Aquino boasts of building new roads and bridges, but without farmers owning their own lands, how would they be productive enough to even plant those rice and harvest them and take them to markets?


He mentioned that 1.6 million jobs were created but he never did mention if these are full-time positions or casuals. He talked about renewing foreign investor confidence but he never mentioned those problems pointed out by the foreign chambers that is the continued red tape and bureaucratic bullshits that choke the life out of foreign investors.


He says that self-rated poverty went down to about 15% from 25%, but he never mentioned that this reflects the higher sociological impact of the people, not the true state of poverty incidence. Poverty incidence remains very high and in fact, has risen a couple of notches since January 2011.


The only concrete thing he mentioned was the Spratlys issue that while we seek for a peaceful resolution of the conflict, we nonetheless, find ways of re-equipping our naval forces with some sophisticated equipment like ships and air power. 


For the SONA to really be effective, it must answer the question SON NA ang Pagbabago? (Where are the changes?).


A true SONA tells us what reality really is. Every Filipino will face every problem like a man. I believe that it will not hurt if Aquino tried to really say what the root cause of the problems is.


Aquino should have levelled off with the Filipino, and while doing that, provided much needed solutions to the systemic problems of the country. It will not be a shame if Aquino told the people that these problems remain because of a bloated bureaucracy lumbering about while the world changes. That the system is really the true problem, Aquino should have mentioned that. Aquino should have admitted that the reason why changes are very slow stems from the fact that the system itself prevents changes from happening. 


Arroyo was brave enough to tell this to foreign investors and several other Philippine legislators before. People expect Aquino to be better than Arroyo. 


In short, that one hour speech was not just malamya but walang bayag.

The SONA, if you ask me

If you ask me what's the greatest and most notable achievement that President Noynoy and his bunch of Cabinet members made in the bureaucracy, I'll say that they successfully regained the confidence of the people once more. Noynoy did his part in renewing the faith of the Filipino in himself.  


For nine long years, the Filipino was bruised, chastised and robbed by a bunch of nitwits and misfits wearing barong. The Arroyo administration made a mockery of truth, justice and promoted a state of lawlessness and wanton thievery that slowed down the economy and affected the very lives of every Filipino family. Poverty spread and along with it, hopelessness.


Now, there's some flicker of hope we see in the horizon. At least, we have a President who is not expected to rob us more of billions. That's what a former Gawad Kalinga now Undersecretary told me last week during a quick lunch at Casa Roces.

Wow. Utang na loob pa pala natin na hindi na nagnanakaw ang ating Pangulo. Of course, we expect every President to be a paragon of trust, integrity and honesty in service. It is of no consolation to us that Noynoy does not intend to rob and what is the proof that he does'nt?


The thing that I should have said is this: yep, Noynoy will definitely not rob us of any single cent but what about his cabinet members? What about those directors in government who continue to do the same old practices? What about them?


What do I know? I'm just an ordinary Filipino, working my butt off just to feed my family and give them a good life. 

What I know is this:


1. Oil prices have shot up. It eats up my monthly take home pay so much that I have to cut down my grocery expenses.


2. Food prices are so exorbitant and so unbelievably high that I notice my peso's value shrinking every single day.


3. Jobs are so scarce that my fellow Filipinos are hard put feeding their own families. One example: my 45 year old uncle who lost his job in a bank. He is now trying to make ends meet by selling iced water. 


I don't know nothing much about politics, but I do know about economics. During my college days, I tend to shun anything that concerns numbers. Now, I have to relive those lessons I learned from Prof. Winnie Monsod just to tide things over. By the way, Winnie just gave Noynoy a grade of 4.6, meaning bagsak. 


All I know is that it is business as usual at the Bureau of Customs, the same thing over at other agencies, with the exception of the BIR, and the Bureau of Immigration. There is no noticeable changes in policies in these agencies simply because you need changes in legislation to enhance or improve government services.


What I do know is I'm impressed with the speed my passport application went thru when I renewed my old one. I know that at least, people from the DFA are highly impressed with the way Foreign Affairs secretary Albert del Rosario is handling the department.


Who would not be impressed with Cesar Purisima? Inspite of the inactivity of the government in terms of the economy, ours continue to survive mainly because of deft handling of accounts etc. 


Of course, the patriotic Mar Roxas is now managing the DOTC. With him at the helm, expect this agency to function very well, graft-free.


Again, what do I know? I'm just a 40 year old observer of things. 


Lessen the prices of commodities and services, lower the prices of oil and increase the number of jobs. If Noynoy would do all these things, then, I'll say that there are changes.


SONA---SON NA ANG PAGBABAGO?

When President Noynoy visited Casa Roces

Busy Casa Roces

President Benigno Aquino just strode down from his office and walked briskly away from Malacanang. It was a bright and sunny Tuesday morning. Along with him are two of his most trusted Cabinet members, his Executive secretary Paquito Ochoa and Budget secretary Butch Abad. No one knows exactly where the President wants to go. They just tagged along as the Most Powerful Man of the Philippines just suddenly had the desire to eat.


Maybe the bachelor president smelled the aroma of Chef Menoy's dishes, the creative force behind Casa Roces, the newest restaurant right smack infront of the country's seat of power. 


It was unheard of, the President walking unescorted outside the palace grounds. During the time of Mrs. Arroyo, the President had to book her appointments in advance. There was tight security. The Presidential Security Group (PSG) had to literally sweep every place where Arroyo goes to. 

Now, for the first time in nine years, we see a President walking past his guards and slipping into the nice and comfortable house turned restaurant of iconic newspaper man and democracy icon, Chino Roces. 


Casa Roces, the newest restaurant infront of Malacanang has history written all over it. The place bore the bruises and memories of a distant past where politicians of note visited this noted house of the Roceses. Alejandro Roces use this house to welcome his guests. 


In the past, this house use to welcome only the richest, the wealthiest and the most powerful in Philippine society and politics.

Receiving room for guests

This ancient bahay na bato is one of the original settlers in this wide expanse of land fronting the Pasig river. The house is located along JP Laurel Avenue inside Malacanang compound. It is infront of the former San Miguel beer factory compound, now the (in)famous Burloloy building (now housing the Presidential Communications Group).


The Roces family is one of the most respected and the most famous families in Philippine history. In my generation, I only remember Don Chino Roces, the penultimate paperman who fought the Marcos regime. Imagine the shock that I had that this frail man who fought Macoy just lives a few blocks away from the strongman's official abode. 

Look who sat in this chair?

If you visit Casa Roces, you'll find various memorabilia of an era where gentlemen dined and wined and debate for many nights only to find themselves crossing swords in Congress days later. In Chino Roces' time, politics is a gentleman's game. 


Now, Casa Roces is for everybody who loves conversations, over great food and inspiring ambiance. Foes and friends alike must have probably met with Chino in one of the nooks in this place. 


I saw this chair and saw who's that fine lady in one of the pictures and it's the First Lady, Imelda Marcos. She probably had a shock of her life when she learned that one of the Roces family members struggled against her husband. 


The entire place speaks of history, of generations past where Filipinos still think that they are the greatest race ever in Asia. 


By the way, don't be surprised if Casa Roces serves great and excellent dishes. Cravings, the country's most loved and trusted brand in food services, is the one managing Casa Roces' kitchen. 

The Roces family talked with Ms. Marinella Guerrero-Trinidad on how to collaborate and turn Casa Roces into a much-talked restaurant it is now. After a few months of brain storming and a little remodelling, the family opened itself up to the public.


Minimal changes have been made in this house. Cravings and the family made sure that there were no major re-modelling or re-designs that were made. As much as possible, the family and Cravings wanted minimal changes. That house once housed the country's heroes and it is here where they once dreamt of how to help the country. It was in this house that they composed their opus, the house where they had the spark of inspiration to move against those who wanted nothing more than destroy Philippine democracy.


The original furniture that adorned this house were restored in their pristine condition. Photos and memorabilia of the Roces' contribution to Philippine democracy are everywhere. Even old cola glasses were made decors to remind everyone that even if this is now a restaurant, you are still in a place where great men once considered their private abode.

Kare-kare here is heavenly

What I loved about the place is its simple elegance. Pricey paintings animate the centuries-old walls of the house. Old books, mostly law books and some hard-bound ones, give the place the smell of old paper, not rotting but still very much alive. When you eat at Casa Roces, you'll not only enjoy eating great food, you are actually inside a capsule where history has been forged. 


Anyway, the president sat in one of the old chairs of this fine restaurant and ordered his favorite food. His cabinet members also ordered other specialties of Casa Roces: that rich thick peanut sauce poured all over a finely cooked beef, of sinigang that smells just heavenly and taste oh, so yummy and of other traditional Filipino dishes made special through the imagination and creativity of Cravings' Chef Menoy.


Before, a food taster was hired by Malacanang to sample the president's food even before any morsel touch the president's mouth. When Noynoy was inside the Casa, there was no food taster. Despite being the country's political royalty, Noynoy was not treated as an extra special celebrity, oh no. The President of the country was treated just like any who just wants to eat those dishes prepared by his mother or grandmother.


And they don't need a food taster. Cravings is quite known for serving dishes par excellence, and safe, and sanitary and extremely, healthy. 


When the president took a bite out of his order (beef, it's a secret what), his face lighted up. It was if all the worries of the world, all the burdens of the state, just suddenly vanished. And Noynoy had his nice time. 


(By the way, if you want to eat at Casa Roces, go to Malacanang. It is actually outside the official grounds of the palace. Just tell the sentries over at Gate one that you're eating at Casa Roces. They'll let you through. Now, if you're worried that prices here at Casa Roces would cost you an arm and a leg, no. Casa Roces prices are at least 5% lower than fine dining restaurants.So, what are you waiting for?)

The State of the Nation

This is a photo taken yesterday at Gate 3 of Malacanang. This is the true state of our Nation.


In the past, when it rains, someone pulls down the national flag with ceremonies, of course.


Now, no one seems to mind. Woe to the Filipino People.

Palace: Garcillano next to fall

Days after sources say that Virgilio Garcillano, the baritone voice behind the controversial Hello Garci scandal which saw former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo apologizing for her calling him, is expected to surface very soon. This, after sources say, the Palace lost Garcillano over to a former Arroyo General who reportedly beat Palace operators to the draw.

Political adviser Ronald Llamas himself says that the former Comelec commissioner is expected to surface very soon. Garcillano is expected to further pin Arroyo to the charge of rigging the 2004 elections.

Garcillano went underground shortly after the Senate probed the controversial Hello Garci tapes. He will be the sixth witness who now came forward saying that there was fraud that happened in the last elections.

Yes, Garcillano is the missing link, so to speak. He knows what happened. He is expected to spill the beans especially against former generals involved in the Hello Garci operations.

What probers should investigate is the way Arroyo and her associates tried to launder dirty public money. Apart from rigging the elections, probers should look into how Arroyo etal laundered money by using these as electoral funds. Congress should be interested on probably creating a law on electoral funds. Funds should be accounted by the State and controls should be instituted so that dirty money would not be laundered during elections.

Garcillano's revelations about electoral fraud, for me, is beside the point already. Everyone knows and are convinced that the previous electoral exercises were rigged.

The most important thing I think government should be looking into is how Arroyo and her associates amass billions of pesos that they used in rigging the elections. Where did the money come from? How many sponsors did contribute money to fund Arroyo? These funders should be exposed.

57 buhay kapalit ng kapirangot na impormasyon?

Kasalukuyang nasasa heart center si dating Maguindanao governor at suspect sa Ampatuan massacre na si Zaldy Ampatuan. Batay sa ulat, marami daw dinadamdam ang nasabing masaker suspek. Tanong: pahiwatig ba ito sa kanyang dating boss na si Gloria Arroyo na nagdurugo ang kanyang puso dahil para siyang kuting na iniwan nito?


Kung ano man ang dinadamdam ni Ampatuan, makatarungan sigurong manatili siya sa kulungan. Yan ang kabayaran ng mga taong nagkakasala o maski naman ng mga taong napaghihinalaan pa lamang na nagkasala.


Yan ang dikta ng ating batas. Yan din ang dapat respetuhin at ipatupad.


Kung ordinaryong detainee lamang siguro si Ampatuan, baka nagpadala na lamang ng doktor sa kanyang selda ang pamahalaan. Ngunit, hindi ito ang nangyayari.


Kuntodo deny ang Malakanyang na mayroong kasunduan sa pagitan ng pamahalaan at si Zaldy Ampatuan. Ngunit, kitang kita ang biglaang pagbabago sa pribilehiyong ibinibigay ng pamahalaan sa dating gobernador.


Mahalagang asset daw ng pamahalaan itong si Ampatuan, maraming nalalaman na maaaring maglagay sa kulungan sa dating pangulong Arroyo sampu ng mga alipores nito. 


Ang tanong naman--kung ang impormasyon naman ni Ampatuan ay hinggil lamang sa dayaan sa halalan, makatarungan bang ipagpalit dito ang limamput pitong buhay na nalagas dulot ng kasakiman sa kapangyarihan?


Kung may timbangan, mas mabigat ba ang testimonya ng isang kasapakat sa kasalanan kasa paghingi ng katarungan ng limamput pitong naulila ng mga mahal sa buhay?


Masama ding ehemplo ang ipinapakita ng mga eksenang ito na sangkot si Ampatuan at ang administrasyong Aquino---mahihilom ba ng isang mali ang isang naging kamalian at kabuktutan? 


Alam na ng lahat na isang pekeng pangulo si Arroyo mula ng dinaya nito ang mga halalang 2004 at 2007. Hindi na rin bago sa pandinig ng masa na nagpalitan ng pera  at ginamit ng dating administrasyon ang buwis ng madla upang manatili ito sa kapangyarihan.


Kung hindi naman ganoon kahalaga ang sasabihin ng mga Ampatuan, bakit kailangang isawalang bahala ang katarungan?

The Three Musikeros: Ampatuan, Bedol and Garcillano (ABG)

Lintang Bedol, the controversial COMELEC supervisor has teamed up with former Maguindanaoan governor Zaldy Ampatuan. DILG secretary Jesse Robredo says Virgilio Garcillano, the man behind the "voice" in the Hello Garci tapes may be just a  few days away. Media describes Garcillano as the "missing link" and they may be right. 


Garcillano knows how the operation went. He knows who benefitted from those billions of pesos spent for the election of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.


People say it's all for nothing since even if probers establish electoral fraud, the beneficiary is already dead (FPJ). They're missing the point.


MOre than proving that there was fraud in the 2004 elections, the important thing is how to crucify the previous administration in using public funds during the elections. Obviously, these funds came from public coffers. 


Arroyo etal may not be accused or charged with violation of the Election Code. She and her cohorts may however, be charged with plunder since the use of public funds for the elections is one form of laundering dirty money.


Ampatuan, Bedol and even Garcillano's song may not be useless afterall. 

Garci being held by ex-Arroyo Cabinet official

Controversial Commission on Elections Commissioner Virgilio Garcillano is now safely in the hands of an ex-Cabinet official of the Arroyo administration. Several days ago, Garcillano was reported to have struck a deal with government emissaries. The former election official whom former president Gloria Arroyo spoke to at the height of the 2004 elections, was reported to have been under government protective custody already. However, the deal with Garcillano, says several sources, failed because of several concessions being asked by the former election official.
Garci has not been seen in public since 2007, the year when the Hello Garci scandal was at its height. Garci reportedly checked out of the Chinese General Hospital and was never seen again. The last interview with Garci was with a GMA7 reporter in his farm somewhere in Mindanao.

Who is keeping Garci safe from government hands?

The source, who refuses to be identified, said that this official was responsible for the "security" of Garci during the height of the scandal. He is said to have supplied Garci not just with money but also with the needed security escorts and helicopters. He was also the one who provided Garci with the escape route when he was being pursued by the Senate and by the media.

When this official learned that Garci was trying to forge a deal with the Aquino administration, the official reportedly contacted his principal. His principal gave the go-signal and was given the green light to negotiate with the former election official. Their talk clinched the deal.

Garci, according to the source, is still somewhere in Mindanao. Another ex-Cabinet official of the former dispensation also visited Garci and expressed allegedly the First Couple's assurance of protection.

Spratlys Issue connection in forthcoming coup?

The US just expressed its overwhelming support behind the Philippines in the disputed Spratlys island controversy. The thing about this is, China's continued claims harm the interests of the Philippines and the rest of ASEAN. China's military think tank recently issued an inflammatory statement, reiterating the use of force to assert its so-called sovereign rights upon these groups of islands.


Nationalist Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario tried to use diplomacy in engaging China into a constructive dialogue but it appears that these Chinese are playing hard ball. China claims the entire group of islands and is using its economic as well as military might to position itself as the biggest and the largest force ever. 


NOw, what is the objective of China now that the Philippines has strengthened its position? It is clear that China will try to move surreptitiously against the Philippines.


The Philippines, it is clear from the perspective of several analysts, is still unstable. The present administration has shown its partiality towards the West. Previous administration is East-oriented, with China as the biggest country involved in most projects in the Philippines. It was during the Arroyo administration that China was able to penetrate the Philippine infrastructure, both critical and non-critical. 


This suddenly changed with the arrival of the new administration. Almost all projects or contracts involving Chinese companies have been placed in the backburner. However, curiously, this administration has failed to touch on Chinese involvement in telecommunications. IN the event of an armed "showdown", China can very well dismantle or debilitate this country's telecommunications network with just a switch. 


Anyway, it is clear that China will not be using its military card, no, not yet. It will try to resolve its problem by "curing the core", that is an unsympathetic government. How to do that? BY supporting ouster moves against Aquino.


The main or principal character in the present campaign against Aquino is reportedly very close to China, instrumental in making the former KAMPI a member of China's ruling Communist Party. 


During the Japanese times, we had what we call "Makapilis"--Filipinos in hoods spying against their fellow Pinoys. Now, how do we call these pseudo-nationalists who think like Chinese and act like one? They are called Chimoys. :-) Joke.

Mariano's call--an Isolated one, says Malacanang. Is it?

Malacanang spokesperson Abigal Valte was quick to squelch news about Marine Colonel Generoso Mariano's call for the replacement of the government. A few days ago, Mariano appeared in a video, expressing his general sentiments on Philippine reality. He said that soldiers are humans too, who feel the impact of rising prices of oil, food and basic services. These things, he said, injure or harm the lives of people. The Armed forces, Mariano said, is duty-bound by the Constitution to protect the people from harm. It is then, the duty of everyone to protect themselves from an unsympathetic and uncaring government.


These things, if you look closely, parallels those of General Lim's previous statement during the Marine barracks incident several years ago. Lim's and Mariano's statements jibe because they are general statements of observations on socio-economic political reality. These are political observations, and observations are part of self-expression, a right protected by the Charter. 


I urge Malacanang to examine the statement because there is nothing seditious nor treasonous in it. What Mariano meant by saying that he is calling for the "replacement of government" proceeds from his general presumptions. It is nothing but a hook to engage Malacanang.


Sacking an individual who just expressed his sentiments is, I think, overboard. This will only enflame the situation and will eventually spark conversations on the veracity of these claims as against the administration's.


Besides, sacking him is symbolic. It means that this administration does not tolerate expressions of dissent, something which characterized the previous dispensations. Why sack someone who just expressed his own thoughts on what's happening?


NOW, linking Mariano to the camp of Arroyo is a political tactic, something which should not have been done in the first place. What Valte did was give legitimacy to the statements previously issued by Malacanang. Why? If people think that Mariano's statements were legitimate, they will also then, equate Arroyo's statements as similarly legitimate. 


Malacanang should tread this thing very carefully.


The truth of the matter is....


A large majority of the Armed Forces, according to several sources, is not at all sympathetic to the Aquino administration. However, we must qualify this. Who among these groups would move against Noynoy?


There is an intelligence report which says that former Intelligence chief of Arroyo is moving against the Aquino administration. This guy is the "knight" of Arroyo. His mission--prevent the Aquino administration from filing cases against his principals. He is also moving for a foreign government. He has been touring around camps, mostly those in the Visayas and Mindanao, to gather sympathizers.


Worse, because of the PCSO scandal sparked by the Palace itself, the administration is now isolated. Obviously, two institutions are now in opposition to the palace--the church and some segments of the AFP. With these two institutions now moving against this administration, it is now under what we call "a revolutionary situation."


The question now---what will happen next?

Col. Generoso Mariano's State of the Nation Address (or Sermon): The Absence of Malasakit in present government

I was not surprised when I heard that a certain colonel came out of the woodworks to denounce the Aquino administration. Whether or not this colonel is calling for the specific ouster of Aquino or not, the fact remains that the things or issues he raised in his video were legitimate. There were no linkages between Colonel Generoso Mariano of the Naval Command nor of the former camps of Querubin-Lim but the issues are the same simply because we have'nt changed this system that continues to oppress us.


Mariano is simply stating facts which exists in our economic and political reality. There is no treason there. There was no specific grievance that he uttered against the system. Mariano was simply trying to state the present realities of everyday Filipino life. 


" We soldiers, are humans too. "says Mariano in his video speech.


Mariano stated a very nice deconstruction of Philippine reality. His stated recommendations are constitutional ones, nothing illegal, just plain narration of what prescriptions are stated in the charter.


NOW, A WEAKENED GOVERNMENT WOULD REACT NEGATIVELY because of self-preservation. Or simply, kayabangan.


Noynoy should treat this as a wakeup call. Admit that there were erroneous decisions he did in the past and he did poorly in his first year administration.


And there was good news that Noynoy simply glossed over simply because he was cloistered enough, like a priest inside a seminary.


There are three words which this government forgot on the way to power, and these are " kababaang-loob, kapatiran and malasakit."


Malasakit is one word which escaped Pnoy and his Cabinet members on the way to power. They forgot that the reason why they were elected in the first place by the people was the huge perception that they knew what ails the country and how best to solve it.


It seems that they know nothing and prescribes almost the same things which the past dispensation did and erred.


Worst, they failed to be there when needed by the people. The inability of the government to act against rising oil and food prices is just one example of the absence of malasakit. (for English readers, just research what this means.). The continued oppression of the poeple and the inability of government to address this is another example of the absence of malasakit.


There is still time for Noynoy and his fellows up there to re-discover their former selves and dispense of the sickness which afflicted those in the former government.

Lacierda "pooh-poohs" calls for Juico resignation: How insensitive

EDWIN LACIERDA, who also signed the last impeachment complaint against President Gloria Arroyo (I also signed that complaint) gave this statement in response to growing calls for PCSO chief Margie Juico and the entire board's resignation.

“I think that’s a pretty minor reason to ask for resignation,"

Lacierda's response came after Juico admitted that the Pajero scandal was just a PR stunt, that there was no Pajero in the first place and that irreparable damage has been committed against the Church. That admission is enough to file a case of libel against Juico and the rest of the PCSO board. Catholic bishops are asking for the head of Juico.


Juico's recklessness has put a wedge between the State and the Church, and you call that a "minor" reason to ask for her resignation? Lacierda should really examine his statements very carefully.


It is like saying that the church is just "pooh-pooh" and not a force to reckon with in the scheme of things. As a Presidential spokesperson, Lacierda should be extremely cautious regarding this issue. 


For one, the Church remains a partner of government in dispensing public services to the poor and two, the Church is historically, a political force. Remember the two EDSAs?


Lacierda should not issue such statements so as to enflame the current controversy. Lacierda's statement should always be politically sensitive especially now that the administration is being pilloried due to this issue.


Maybe Lacierda is only sensitive to the fact that Juico is a close Aquino relative, and not to the growing calls for Juico and the PCSO board's resignation. 


By the way, for those who want the PCSO board to resign, sign this petition. see link: http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/margiejuicoandpcsoboard/

Maguindanao Massacre case: Palit-Ulo for Ampatuan to turn state witness?

When I was still a police beat reporter, there's a street term for my topic today. When cops arrest a small fry in the drug business, they usually "negotiate" with the suspect to tell his other accomplices. What cops will do is offer him freedom in exchange for telling them the place where a bigger drug personality lives. In street lingo, this is called "palit ulo" or "exchange".


The question is---with these so-called "revelations" being unleashed by former governor and close Arroyo associate Zaldy Ampatuan against his former benefactors, was there a secret "deal" for this Ampatuan to "tell-all" in exchange for his freedom?


I doubt if freedom was the topic of exchange, maybe a little "leeway" or a "loosening" of bonds, so to speak? Maybe some emissaries were sent to some palace official, asking for some "leeway" which we simply can't determine now. Yet, the truth will come out, sooner than later.


Freedom is simply out of the question simply because public outrage will definitely come out of it. The crime the Ampatuans committed was so gruesome and heinous that negotiating for freedom is simply out of synch with political reality.


Maybe, lessening the penalties for the crime? Yet, being a suspect in a crime of conspiracy, the punishment of one is the punishment of all. Zaldy can't simply escape this even with a strong Palaca backer.


How about lessening the period of detention by a presidential pardon? If convicted of the crime of multiple murder, the penalty is life imprisonment. In our jurisdiction, it means 40 years. There are, however, cases where lifers get pardoned by the President. Is this the topic of "exchange"?

TWO PCSO BOARD MEMBERS HAVE ESTAFA CASES FILED AGAINST THEM

Francisco Joaquin charged with estafa

TWO MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF THE PHILIPPINE CHARITY SWEEPSTAKES OFFICE HAVE PENDING WARRANTS FOR THEIR ARREST FOR ALLEGED ESTAFA CHARGES.


OTHER MEMBERS OF THE PCSO BOARD LED BY MARGARITA MARGIE JUICO ARE ALSO BEING INVESTIGATED AND BEING LIFESTYLE CHECKED BY AN INTERNAL GROUP OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES FOR POSSIBLE FILING OF CASES BEFORE THE OFFICE OF THE OMBUDSMAN. 

DOCUMENTS HERE SHOWED ATTY. ALETA TOLENTINO AND FRANCIS JOAQUIN, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD LED BY EMBATTLED CHAIR MARGIE JUICO HAVE PENDING CASES BEFORE THE COURTS FOR ESTAFA.

A CASE OF ESTAFA HAS BEEN CHARGED AGAINST JOAQUIN BEFORE THE METROPOLITAN TRIAL COURT OF MANILA, A COPY IS SHOWN HERE.

ANOTHER COPY OBTAINED FROM THE NATIONAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION SHOWS ANOTHER CASE FILED AGAINST FRANCISCO JOAQUIN BEFORE THE REGIONAL TRIAL COURT OF QUEZON CITY FOR VIOLATION OF SPECIAL STATUES.

HE IS ACTUALLY INCLUDED IN THE WANTED LIST OF THE NBI. RECORDS SHOW THAT JOAQUIN REPORTEDLY LIVES IN NORTH GREENHILLS, SAN JUAN METRO MANILA. THE CASE IS DOCKETED AS Q-33595.

CASES OF ESTAFA HAS ALSO BEEN FILED AGAINST ATTY. ALETA TOLENTINO, AS SHOWN IN THESE PAPERS PUBLISHED HERE AND OBTAINED FROM THE NATIONAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION.

TOLENTINO IS REPORTEDLY A MEMBER OF A PARTYLIST ORGANISATION THAT LOST IN THE 2010 ELECTIONS. SHE IS REPORTEDLY A RELATIVE OF A HIGH RANKING AQUINO CABINET OFFICIAL (?).

A COPY OF HER NBI RECORDS IS SHOWN HERE. SHE HAS A CASE OF SWINDLING OR ESTAFA AND IS WANTED BY THE COURTS OF LAGUNA. HER CASE NO IS 8477-01-C.

SHE REPORTEDLY LIVES IN THE PAMANA BUILDING, A. ARNAIZ AVENUE IN MAKATI CITY.

ACCORDING TO THE CIVIL SERVICE RULES, NO PERSON ACCUSED OF A CRIME OR WANTED BY THE LAW CAN ASSUME A GOVERNMENT POST UNTIL AFTER THE RESOLUTION OF THEIR CASES IN COURT.

IT SHOWS IN THESE DOCUMENTS THAT THE TWO, ALETA TOLENTINO AND FRANCISCO JOAQUIN HAVE BEEN FOUND TO HAVE REPORTEDLY EVADED THE LAW. THEY ARE BOTH ACCUSED OF THE CRIMES OF ESTAFA AND SWINDLING.

A GROUP WITHIN MALACANANG IS CURRENTLY INVESTIGATING OTHER BOARD MEMBERS OF THE PHILIPPINE CHARITY SWEEPSTAKES OFFICE NAMELY: BETTY NANTES, WIDOW OF THE LATE QUEZON GOVERNOR RAFFY NANTES AND MABEL MAMBA.

INITIAL PROBE SHOWS THAT A CONFIDENTIAL EMPLOYEE OF NANTES HAS BEEN FOUND TO HAVE A CRIMINAL RECORD YET WAS ABLE TO WORK AT THE PCSO.

THIS SPACE IS OPEN FOR THE TWO BOARD MEMBERS TO EXPLAIN THIS TO THE PUBLIC. IT IS DANGEROUS FOR THE FILIPINO PEOPLE TO HAVE TWO PERSONS CHARGED WITH ESTAFA AND SWINDLING HAVING THE POWER TO HANDLE BILLIONS OF PESOS WORTH OF PUBLIC FUNDS. 

Juico--Trojan Horse ni Gloria? Or just plain stupid. Resign Juico Now!

Imagine the entire Church humiliated by the erroneous accusation of Margie Juico and the PCSO board with Betty Nantes, Mamba, Tolentino and what-have-you. Juico denies accusing the bishops of getting "Pajeros' when three (3) reputable news outlets, including one which they paid 750,000 pesos allegedly (source is internal) to just publish the "kuryente" news of the Pajero bishops have attested that it came from her own mouth. 

Juico should re-examine her statements. She really said those bishops got Pajeros, not utility vehicles. The senate discovered that there was no Pajeros involved.

And I am saddened by the statement of Senator Teofisto Guingona IV, head of the Senate Blue Ribbon committee. Guingona, whom I admire and helped during the elections, said that Juico should not resign from her post. WTF?

Mr. Senator, this woman is either a trojan horse of former president Gloria Arroyo or just plain stupid. IMagine, coming out and accusing innocent people of a crime they did not commit and now says, she's sorry? 

Juico should not just be fired and the entire board as well. They should be charged with libel!

And to my friend, Senator Guingona. Join us in asking for Juico's head.

CBCP SHOULD FILE LIBEL CHARGES AGAINST JUICO AND PCSO BOARD

According to a very reliable source, it was the suggestion of a lady board member of the PCSO who is a non-lawyer and reputedly very close to Dante Ang to picture the vehicles as PAJEROS or SUVs when in fact, the vehicles donated by the PCSO were all utility vehicles.

And based on my contact, the CBCP particularly the bishops are thinking of filing libel charges against Juico and the rest of the PCSO board. My sources say the PCSO board committed libel when they accused these bishops of impropriety. The main requisite for the crime of libel is when a person imputes a crime against another without sufficient basis in truth and in fact.

In this case, there were several quotes attributed to Juico and other board members accusing the Bishops of receiving SUVs or Pajeros. In today's Senate hearing, Juico denied ever mentioning the term "Pajero" despite overwhelming pieces of evidence (news reports) directly quoting her.

Seems like the truth is finally unravelling...

JUICO AND THE PCSO BOARD'S EXPOSE BECAME A DUD. POOF. PAHIYA SI JUICO SAMPU NG MGA PCSO BOARD MEMBERS. YAN, PAPAKITANG GILAS KAY PNOY AT PARA DI MABUKO NI PNOY SA MGA KATIWALIAN NILA SA AHENSYA, NAGPASABOG SILA NG EXPOSE NA SUMABOG SA MUKHA NILA. BUTI NGA.

THE PCSO IS IN PRETTY BAD SHAPE DUE TO THE MISMANAGEMENT OF THE JUICOS. STARTING TOMORROW, THE TRUTH WILL COME OUT.

THE JUICOS AND THE IRREGULARITIES REPORTEDLY COMMITTED BY THE PRESENT BOARD WILL BE EXPOSED, ESPECIALLY THE EXPLOITATION OF THE PR FUND....THE RECEIVING OF LOTENG MONEY BY PCSO DIRECTORS COURSED THRU A MAN WITH SO MANY CRIMINAL CASES...JUETENG MONEY BEING REPORTEDLY CHANNELLED THRU PHILIO JUICO AND PNOY RELATIVE ARBOLEDA....MILLIONS OF EXTORTION MONEY REPORTEDLY RECEIVED BY A TRUSTED MAN OF A LADY BOARD MEMBER FROM STL OPERATORS...

MARAMI SIGURONG KATIWALIAN ANG DATING BOARD PERO, ANG MALI PINALITAN NG MGA TIWALI RING MGA TAO ANG BOARD NG PCSO.

Senator Miriam Santiago slams PCSO for asking for investigation of the Church SUV: Juico's head should be cut now!

Senator Miriam Santiago lambasted the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) today at the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee for "wasting the time of the Senate and the people's monies" for calling for an investigation on the giving away of the SUVs to Catholic bishops.

In a stirring speech, Santiago says that the Supreme Court has already ruled that donations or cash coming from government should not be immediately rendered as illegal or illicit, just because it was given by the government. In a landmark case of the Supreme court, the Highest Tribunal of the land, says that the reason for the donation or the reason why the donation is necessary is enough to allow such donations.

Kumbaga, the church officials are not liable for breaking any law. Therefore, the scandal is a non-scandal. Pooh. Poooopppp!

Or what we call in the industry as KURYENTE! KURYENTE!

Juico's revelations backfired. 

This issue exploded before the very face of Juico and the current PCSO board composed of Betty Nantes, Mamba, Tolentino and others.

Santiago's expose is very excellent. I will get a copy and published it here.

The entire PCSO board now will be abolished by Senator Santiago! Congratulations!